Adjustable headrest for chiropractic tables



Feb. 22, 1955 w. .L LORANG ADJUSTABLE HEADREST FOR CHIROPRACTIC TABLES 3Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

m T m V N I Feb. 22, 1955 w J, LORANG 2,702,733

ADJUSTABLE HEADREST FOR CHIROPRACTIC TABLES Filed Deo. 24. 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR. WML/HM J'. oen/v6.

Feb. 22, 1955 w. J. LORANG 2,702,733

ADJUSTABLE HEADREST FOR CHIROPRACTIC TABLES Filed Dec. 24. 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent ADJUSTABLE HEADREST FOR CHIROPRACTICTABLES William I. Lorang, Elgin, Ill., assignor to The WilliamsManufacturing Company, Inc., Elgin, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication December 24, 1953, Serial No. 400,160

3 Claims. (Cl. 311-10) My invention relates to improvements inchiropractic tables and like devices.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in theconstruction of chiropractic tables and has for a purpose the provisionof an improved drop head rest or support, an improved operatingmechanism for raising and lowering the same so that a patient thereoncan be given a better chiropractic treatment.

#For making a proper chiropractic adjustment of the atlas and axisvertebrae, as in making a vertebral subluxation, it is necessary toplace the patient on the chiropractic table and raise or lower thevarious cushions to a desired position for treatment. After this hasbeen done, the drop head cushion or head rest is usually lowered aboutone-half inch at the base of the same at the place where the neck andchin of the patient is located. This is to permit the chiropractor tobring pressure with the heel of his hand to effect an adjustment ofthese vertebrae.

The purpose of the construction of the head rest and related mechanismwhich is described herein is to permit the positioning of the head ofthe patient in the desired position and then raising the portion of thehead rest about a half inch, the head rest then snapping down a halfinch as the vertebral subluxation is effected. This construction andmanner of operation has several distinct advantages over prior head restconstructions. First, the thrust of the chiropractor need be only slightbecause as soon as suicient thrust is applied, the head rest snaps downand the patients neck and head automatically follow. Secondly, theamount of thrust required is delinitely determined and excessive thrustwhich might injure the patient is not used. In addition, chiropractorsare relieved of continuing the downward thrust and do not become asphysically fatigued even though many patients are treated during a day.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the followingdescription wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, uponwhich \Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a chiropractic tableembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken on the line 2 2 of Fig.l;

Fig. 3 is -a fragmentary vertical transverse section through the headrest, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a latch member which I employ;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through the head restraising and lowering mechanism, taken generally on the line 5 5 of Fig.2; and

lFig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

ln the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate anddescribe the same, I have shown a common type of chiropractic tablewhich may include a support frame comprising a pair of parallelhorizontal rod members 10 and 12 which are mounted in suitable front andend brackets 14 and 16. The brackets 14 and 16 each have a pair of endsupport feet 18 and 20, each of the feet having a pad 22 at its lowerend.

il provide the usual body support cushion 24 mounted for verticaladjustment and control upon operating mech- `anisms 26 and 28 which arefastened to the horizontal frame members 10 and 12. These mechanisms maybe of the type shown in the Herbert L. Thompson Patent No. 2,267,054issued December 23, 1941, and generally include a screw member 30 whichis supported in a pair of carriages 32 that ride upon a transverse screwhousing 34.

2,702,733 Patented Feb. 22, 1955 Mice Support rods 36 from the carriages32 raise or lower the body support 24 upon manipulation of one of thehandles `38, there being one on each side of the table.

The drop head rest 40 may also be mounted upon similar raising andlowering mechanisms, the front raising or lowering mechanism 42 havingthe upwardly extending support rods 36 connected to a cross-shaft 44which is mounted in a pair of L-shaped brackets 46 that are fastened tothe lower wall 48 of the head rest 40 adjacent the two sides ofthe same.

The lower head piece raising device 50 may be similar to the frontraising device 42 and have its support rods 36a extended diagonallyupwardly and connected adjacent the two ends of a cross-shaft 52 whichis mounted in a pair of support brackets 54 and 56 that are alsofastened to the bottom wall 48 of the head piece 40. The cross-shaft 52also extends through a third bracket 58 which is fastened to a plate 60secured to the bottom wall 48 of the head piece adjacent the raisedcushioned support 40a at the lower end of the same which surrounds theopening 40b therein, the head cushion being fastened in this manner topermit the head of the patient to lie face down or to lie upon the rightor the left side.

The side brackets 54 and 56 are formed with elongated openings 62 and aclosed end wall 64 to receive the ends of the cross-shaft 52. Acompression spring 66 is provided in the upper end of the elongatedopening 62 for a purpose which will be hereinafter apparent.

As previously stated, it is desirable to provide the drop head restherein described with a pivotal mounting near the top or upper end ofthe same and arranged to automatically permit the dropping of the loweropposite end of the head rest a short distance during the making of avertebral subluxation. This is accomplished with the -construction shownby means of the provision of the 'bracket 5-8 through which thecross-shaft 52 extends. The bracket 58 has an elongated slot 68 thereinand an opening 7G in one of the side walls of the same in which a latchmember 72 may operate, the latch member 72 being pivotally mounted upona pin 74 adjacent the lower end of the bracket 58. The latch member 72,as can be seen, is provided with a cam surface portion 72a which-terminates in an arcuately shaped shoulder 72b, the radius of theshoulder being the same as the radius of the cross-shaft 52.

When a patient has been placed upon the chiropractic table and thechiropractor in the making of a vertebral subluxation makes a thrustwith the heel of his hand to effect an adjustment of the atlas and axisvertebrae, there is a downward pressure generally above the bracket 58and cross-shaft 52 suicient to turn the latch member 72 about its pivot74 and permit the lower end of the head piece 4t) to descend so that thecross-shaft 52 is in the upper end of the elongated opening 68. Thismovement, due to the raising of the shaft 52 in the opening, causes theshaft to ride up against the cam edge 72a of the latch member 72,swinging the same outwardly around its pivot 74 and against the pressureof a spring member -80 that is mounted on a rod 82 extending from thelatch member 72 through a support bracket 84 to a point beyond the upperend of the head piece. When the lower end of the head piece hasdescended suiciently to pass the rise in the cam edge 72a, the spring 80will return the latch member and the arcuate support surface 72b of thelatch member will hold the head piece and crossshaft 52 in the changedposition.

After the treatment has been given, the latch mechanism can be reset bypulling on the handle 86 of the opera-ting rod 82 of the latch member topermit the spring members 66 positioned in the brackets 54 and S6 tothrust the shaft 52 downwardly and thereby raise the lower end of thehead rest 40 to original position.

From the above and foregoing description it can be seen that I haveprovided together with a convenient pivotal raising and loweringmechanism for the lower end of the head rest of a chiropractic table, alatch mechanism `which is simple in operation, yet capable ofeffectively permitting the slight downward thrust or tilting of thelower end of the head piece during a vertebral subluxation.

While I have illustrated and described a specic embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made in the exact details shown, and I do notwish to be 'limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secureand protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a chiropractic table having a Iframe, a headrest with means for automatically permit- Iting a slight verticaltilting of the lower end of said head rest during a vertebralsubluxation, said means including a pair of support brackets secured tothe bottom of said head rest, a third bracket positioned between saidsupport brackets, a cross-shaft mounted in elongated openings in saidsupport brackets and extending through an elongated opening in saidthird bracket, a pivot for said head rest at the upper end of the same,and a latch memlber pivotally mounted in said third bracket, said latchmember normally engaging said cross-shaft to hold the same in the lowerends of the support brackets but perl mitting the brackets and lower endof the head rest to 4move downwardly about the head rest pivot a specicdistance during a vertebral subluXation.

2. The combination with a chiropractic table having a frame, a head restwith means for automatically permitting a slight vertical tilting of thelower end of said head rest during a vertebral subluxation, said meansincluding a pair of support brackets secured to the bottom of said headrest adjacent the lower end of the same, a third Ibracket aligned withand positioned between said support lbrackets, a cross-shaft mounted inelongated openings in said support brackets and extending through anelongated opening in said third bracket, a second pair of brackets-secured to said head rest adjacent the top end of the same, a supportpivot for said head rest mounted therein, and a spring-pressed latchmember pivotally mounted in said third bracket, said latch membernormally engaging said cross-shaft to hold the same in the lower ends ofthe support bracket openings but permitting the brackets and lower endof the head rest to move downwardly about the head rest pivot a specificdistance during a vertebral subluxation.

3. The combination with a chiropractic table having a frame, a head restwith means for automatically permitting a slight vertical tilting of thelower end of said head rest during a vertebral subluxation, said meansincluding A a pair of support brackets secured to the bottom of saidhead rest adjacent the lower end of the same, a third bracket alignedwith and positioned between said sup-v por-t brackets, a cross-shaftmounted in elongated openings in said support brackets and extendingthrough an elongated opening in said third bracket, a second pair ofbrackets secured to said head rest adjacent the top end of the same, asupport pivot for said head rest mounted therein, and a spring-pressedlatch member pivotally mounted in said third bracket, said latch memberhaving a cam surface normally engaging said cross-shaft to hold the samein the lower ends of the support bracket openings but permitting thebrackets and lower end of the head rest to move downwardly about thehead rest pivot a specic distance during a vertebral subluxation, saidlatch member having a seat for holding the head rest and crossshaft inchanged position, and means for resetting said latch member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS546,235 Luther Sept. l0, 1895 1,079,795 Naysmith Nov. 25, 1913 1,194,939Bishop Aug. 15, 1916 1,269,354 Williams June 111, 1918 1,582,950 Weaveret al. May 4, 1926 2,381,922 Norris Aug. 14, 1945 2,571,829 Buckley Oct.16, 1951 2,622,950 Nimmo Dec. 23, 1952

